Specimen Handling for Suspected Ebola: Guidance Document

Created by CDC microbiologist Frederick A. Murphy, this colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed by an Ebola virus virion.

Recent cases of the Ebola virus infection diagnosed in West Africa underscore the potential for travel-associated spread of the infection and risks of Ebola virus infection to health care workers. Mayo Medical Laboratories would like to remind its clients that samples should not be submitted to any reference laboratory for any type of testing if a patient is being investigated for a viral hemorrhagic fever (e.g., Ebola virus) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Testing for these infectious diseases must be coordinated with local public health authorities.

While the possibility of infected persons entering the United States remains low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that health care providers in the U.S. consider Ebola virus in the differential diagnosis of sudden onset of fever and malaise with other nonspecific signs and symptoms, such as myalgia, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea in any person with recent travel history (within 21 days) in the affected countries and that they also consider isolation of those patients meeting these criteria, pending diagnostic testing.

Clinical specimens from patients being evaluated for EVD should not be submitted to Mayo Medical Laboratories. This includes, but is not limited to, requests for microbiological and non-microbiological (e.g., routine chemistry, serology, histopathology) testing.

Andy Tofilon

Andy Tofilon is a Marketing Segment Manager at Mayo Medical Laboratories. He leads strategies for corporate communications, public relations, and new media innovations. Andy has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2003. Outside of work, Andy can be found running, hiking, snapping photos, and most importantly, spending time with his family.